CemCADE

Cementing design and evaluation software

Applications

U-tube simulation for primary

cement jobs

Mud removal optimization using

WELLCLEAN II* technology

Postjob evaluation using

execution data

5,000

Pump pressure
Wellhead pressure

Cement bond log (CBL)

response prediction

Cement plug job design

5,000
Depth,
ft

10,000

Wellhead 2,500
pressure,
psi

15,000

Casing centralization

Temperature simulation

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Time, min

Benefits

Increased cement job success

rate, reducing costs

Safer operations by predicting

well security before the job

Optimized future improvements

with postjob analysis using
actual job data

CemCADE U-tube simulation optimizes fluid placement during a cement job.

Features

Simulation of all job aspects

Caliper and directional survey

data for casing centralization

Improved fluid design and

placement

Temperature simulation for reducing cement wait time while

avoiding premature setting risk

Mud circulation efficiency

module for assessing pipe
movement influence on flow in
the annulus

Playback simulation

Postplacement analysis module

for predicting gas migration risk

SynCBL module to predict CBL

response

Comparison of actual CBL and

SynCBL to evaluate zonal isolation and avoid remedial repair

A successful cement job results in complete zonal

isolation while saving time and money. To achieve
this, various factors such as well security, good
centralization, efficient mud removal, and gas migration control must be taken into account. Temperature
must be accurately predicted to properly design the
fluid and eliminate excessive waiting on cement. In
addition, a postjob analysis is necessary to ascertain
zonal isolation and avoid any unnecessary remedial
work.
The Schlumberger CemCADE* cementing design and
evaluation software is integrated to help the user design and optimize various cementing job parameters.
Competent cement job design
and simulation

Schlumberger engineers use CemCADE software

to design, simulate, and optimize primary and plug
cementing jobs. CemCADE software can design all
primary land or offshore cementing operations, from
large-diameter surface casing to the deepest liners.

CemCADE software ensures well security at all times

during the cementing job. The application optimizes
pipe standoff and helps to calculate an optimum displacement of mud and preflushes (mud removal and
cement placement) to reduce the risks of channeling
and microannulus (zonal isolation). A field-validated
temperature simulator predicts downhole temperatures, and fluid properties can be designed based on
the predicted temperatures. The SynCBL module can
be used to predict CBL response based on the fluid
placement.
Actual job execution data can be imported into
CemCADE software to compare design with actual
results to verify the success of the operation. SynCBL
can also be used to simulate the CBL response
based on execution job data. This response is compared with the actual CBL data, and interpretation of
the cement logs is performed.
Plug placement can be optimized using CemCADE
software. The CemCADE plug placement module can
predict and minimize fluid interface movement, thus
reducing slurry contamination. This ability increases
the success rates of cement plugs.

CemCADE
Case study

An 812-in hole was drilled, and

a 7-in casing was to be run
to 6,950-ft TD. The job was
designed using CemCADE
software. Fluid properties such
as density and rheology were
optimized for proper placement of the cement. Single-arm
caliper data was imported, and
the number of centralizers and
their placement were optimized
to have a minimum standoff of
75%. WELLCLEAN II technology
was used to ensure good mud
removal for complete zonal
isolation. The volumes of the
cement slurry were calculated
based on caliper data and 15%
excess to ensure that the top
of the cement reached the
desired depth.
The cement job was executed
without incident. The actual
job data was imported into
CemCADE software and
simulated in playback mode.
It was found that the actual
job pressure was lower than
the simulated pressure. In
addition, the CBL indicated
that the actual top of cement
was lower by nearly 1,500 ft.
This explained the difference
in the actual and simulated
placement pressures in the
CemCADE playback mode.
Simulations were performed to
match the actual job pressures,
and the analysis showed that
the actual hole diameter was
larger than expected. This was
also corroborated with the
SynCBL results that matched
the actual CBL response. The
hole volume was found to be
50% greater than determined
by the single arm caliper logs.
The diagnosis using the postjob
evaluation tools generated
improvement recommendations
for future jobs.
*Mark of Schlumberger
Copyright 2010 Schlumberger. All rights reserved. 10-CE-0026

Postjob evaluation in CemCADE software uses actual job data (wellhead pressure [WHP] versus time) to evaluate the cement
job and identify future improvements.

0
0
2,500
Depth,
ft
Depth,
ft

SynCBL amplitude
Importedamplitude
amplitude
SynCBL
Imported amplitude

2,500
5,000
5,000
7,500
20 40 60 80
7,500 0
0
20 amplitudes,
40 60 80
SynCBL-CBL
mV
SynCBL-CBL amplitudes, mV

SynCBL is compared with actual CBL data for proper interpretation of a cement log.

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